Portable hoisting machine



March 24, N 5 LA PORTABLE -HOIST ING MACHINE e Shets-Sheet 1.

Filed Dec. 15, 1953 INVENTOR.

JVOLAAZ 5. 555 c2; 5% 4 ATTORNEY.

March 2451936. 5 BLACK 2,035,294

PORTABLE HOISTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1933 6 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MLAN 5. 5.5.5165.

ATTORNEY.

March 24, 1936. Nfs. BLACK PORTABLE HOISTING MACHI NE Filed Dec. 15, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Afoa/m fil BLACK ATTORNEY.

March 24, 1936. BLACK 1 2,035,294

PORTABLE HOISTING MACHINE Filed D60. 15, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

March 24, 1936-. N 5, CK v 2,035,294

PORTABLE HOISTING MACHINE v Filed Dec. 15, 1953 6 Sheets$heet 6 INVENTOR A/QMW 5. BLHCK.

BY fl ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENTYOFFICE PORTABLE HOISTING MACHINE Nolan s. Black, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 15, 1933, Serial No. 702,477

7 Claims. (Cl. 304-9) This invention relates in general to hoisting Fig 9 is a view sh w p t y in oss section machines and more particularly to portable hoistd p y in elevation taken on the line 9I ing machines. of Fig. 6.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide 10 is a w Shown P y n ss section 5 a new and novel machine for supporting workand Partly in elevation of mechanism forprevent- 5 men, such as decorators and others, the nature ing retrograde rotation of one of the clutch memof whose work necessitates a frequent changing s, a n on t line Iii-l0 of g. 6. f position as t work progresses, Fig. 11 is a view shown in cross section taken Another object of the invention is to provide a on the line I l-l l of Fig. 1.

l0 portable machine having a workmans supporting Fig. 12 is a view shown in cross section taken 1 platform and to provide a new and improved aron the line I2-l2 of Fig. 1. rangement of the operating and control means Fig. 13 s a V ShOWn Partly in MOSS section for raising and lowering the platform. and partly in elevation of one of the driven wheels More specifically it is an object of the inventaken on the line l3-|3 of Fig. 1. tion to provide a machine which includes a ve- Fig. 14 is aview shown in cross section taken on 15 hicle and a vertically adjustable workmans supthe line M-M of Fig. 1. porting platform carried thereby, the mechanism Fig. 15 is a view shown in cross section taken for driving the vehicle and the mechanism for on the line |5l5 of Fig. 4. moving the platform vertically being so arranged Fig. 16 is a plan view in elevation of another 20 in relation to one another in the machine as to form of my invention, in which two machines are permit both their hand controls to be movable utilized.

with the platform so that a workman may ad- Fig. 17 is a side view in elevation of the appajust his position vertically and horizontally, if ratus of Fig. 16 showing the machine in a difler desired, while on the platform. ent position.

Another object of the invention is to provide In the drawings there is shown my machine 25 a machine of the above mentioned character which comprises in general a vehicle, a hoisting which is more safe for workmen than the use of device and a workmans supporting platform, the ladders and scaiiolds, which saves the time used platform and hoisting device, for moving the in climbing up and down ladders and moving same vertically, being carried by the vehicle.

scaffolds and consequently one which serves to The vehicle includes a frame Ill supported on 30 increase the work output of a workman and imwheels II and I2, the wheels H in this instance proves his efliciency in general. being the driven wheels, driven through mecha- These objects and the several-novel features of nism operable by actuating the hand wheels ll. the invention are hereinafter more fully described The workmans' supporting platform, designated 5 and claimed and the preferred form of construcin general by the numeral I5, is suspended from 'tion by which these objects are attained is shown a pair of spaced upright posts I! by the cable l8 in the accompanying drawings in whichof a Windlass operable through a clutch mecha- Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine nism by the hand lever 20. The drive mechanism embodying my invention. of the vehicle and the hoisting mechanism for the 40 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end view of Fig. 1 taken platform are so arranged as to permit the hand 40 in the direction of the arrows 22. operable wheels I 4 and the hoisting lever 20 t Fig. 3 is a view shown in cross section taken on move with the platform so that a workman may the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. adjust. his position vertically and horizontally Fig. 4 is an end view shown in elevation of the to his work, as desired, while on the platform. machine taken in the direction of the arrows There is a drive mechanism for each of the 45 4-4 of Fig. 1. drive wheels I l,separateiy operable through a t Fig. 5 is aview partly in cross section and partly tion of its corresponding hand wheel I 4, The in elevation taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4. other two wheels [2 are pivoted to the frame In Fig. 6 is an enlarged view shown in cross secby forks l3. By having the drive wheels H seption of the hoisting clutch mechanism taken on arately driven and the wheels l2 pivoted to the the line 66 of Fig. 1. frame, it will be seen that the machine may b Fig. '7 is a part of the clutch mechanism of Fig. steered by operating one or the other of the hand 6 shown in elevation removed'from the clutch. wheels. Thus, a workman, while on the platform Fig. 8 is a cooperating part of the clutch part l5 may cause the machine to travel about a room, Shown in Fi 7- for example while painting near the ceiling, lower 55' the platform and repeat the operation of traveling around the walls of the room until the work can be completed from the floor.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, the frame ID, in this instance, is a casting having the side rails 22 and the cross connecting members 24, one of the cross members being shown in Fig. 2. Brackets 25 are welded or otherwise suitably secured, one to each upright post I1, and the posts are separately fixedby these brackets to the frame it! by the bolts 21. drive wheels H are separately journaled, one in the lower end of each upright post, the detail structure being shown in Fig. 13 and hereinafter described.

A pair of spaced tie rods connect the brackets 25, and in this instance consist of rods 26 extending through tubes 21. The rods 25 extend through openings provided in the brackets 25 and are threaded on both ends to receive nuts 28. Two of the sheaves, designated by the numeral 29, of the windlass or hoisting mechanism are anchored to one of the tie rods and the cable l8 extends around these sheaves. The sheaves 28 are journaled in yokes 38 which straddle one of the tie rods as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Tie bars 3| connecting the yokes 30 serve to maintain the sheaves in spaced relation.

The windlass or hoisting mechanism includes a pair of drums H5 and H6 rotatable through clutch mechanism operable by the hand lever 28, an enlarged view of which is shown in Fig. 6. The ends of the cable l8 are tied to the drums, as at 32, so that when the drums are rotated to raise the platform, the drums climb the end portions of the cable. A sheave 58 is supported in the upper end of each post I! and over these sheaves extend the cable l2, the intermediate portion of the cable being anchored by the sheave 29 to the tie rods 21 as heretofore described. It .will be understood that the cable l2 does not rotate about the sheaves 29 and the upper sheaves 58 but that the sheave 29 anchors the cable intermediate its ends and the sheaves 58 constitute the upper suspension points, sheaves being preferable so that the tension on the two end portions of the cable will at all times be equalized.

A bumper 33 extends around the frame It to prevent the engagement of the frame metallic parts with furniture. This bumper may be fixed by brackets (not shown) to the frame in any suitable manner.

The machine is preferably weighted at the end near the pivoted wheels l2 to balance the machine when a single workman is on the far end of the platform. This may be accomplished by providing a weight or, as shown, a series of suitable weights 35 supported on the frame In near the whee1s'l2.

The upright posts I! are hollow and substantially square in cross section and it will be seen by reference to Fig. 13, that one face of the post has inturned edges -31 providing an opening throughout its length. Caps 38 close the top of the posts. The shaft 39 of the drive wheels ll extend through the posts l1 and are held from lateral movement by cotter pins 48. A gear 42 is keyed or otherwise suitably secured to each of the shafts 39 within the posts l'l. Bearing retainers 43, one journaled in each side of the posts l1, support the shafts of the wheels II in roller bearings 44. Washers 45 are provided between the bearing retainer 43 and the gear 42.

In the top of each upright post 11 is supported a gear 58, as shown in Fig. 14. The gears 58 are freely rotatable on shafts 5| journaled in the upper portion of the upright posts H. The shafts 5|, in this instance, are formed with a reduced diametrical portion 52 providing a shoulder 53 and between this shoulder and a spacer 54 the gear 58 is maintained in its proper position within the post. A washer 55 is provided between the shoulder 53 and the gear 50. The outer end of the shaft 52 is threaded to receive a nut 58 by means of which the gear 58 may be clamped between the shoulder 53 and'spacer 54 so that it cannot rotate. This serves as a brake to prevent the machine moving after it has been positioned as desired. On the inner ends of the shafts 5| are the sheaves 58 of the Windlass or hoisting mechanism over which the cable I8 extends. Spacers 59 are provided between the sheaves 58 and the upright posts IT.

A pair of upright posts 60 similar in form to the upright posts I! are'arranged to move with the platform and in the upper end of these posts are supported the hand wheels I 4- As will be seen in Fig. 15, the hand wheels l4 are keyed to shafts, 8| which extend through the upright posts 68 and are held thereon by nuts 52. The shafts Bl of the hand wheels l4 are mounted in roller bearings, the structure of which is-similar to the mounting of the driven wheels shown in Fig. 13. A gear 65 is keyed or otherwise suitably fixed to rotate with the shaft 8! and is centrally located within the post, 68 by-the bearing retainers 65. These movable posts 88, like the stationary posts H are formed with inturned edges on one face extending throughout the length ofthe posts. Caps 64 are provided to close the tops of the posts 60.

Within the lower end of each post 60 there is mounted for rotation, a sheave or guide roller 61. Fig. 5 shows the drive mechanism for one of the wheels II, the mechanism for the other drive wheelbeing the same in structure and operation. Chains I8 connect the hand wheels l4 and the drive wheels H, and these chains extend around the gears 58 in the upper end of posts I! and the sheaves 61 in the lower ends of posts 88.

In order that these drive mechanisms may be associated with the hoisting machine so that the hand wheels may travel with the platform, a pair of guide rollers II and 12 are provided around which the chain also travels. Brackets 13 and 14 are fixed to the upright posts 58 by bolts 15 and these bolts, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 6, also bolt the platform [5 to the posts 68. The upper brackets 13 have yokes l6 adjustably associated therewith for supporting the upper guide sheaves H. The upper yokes 16 are provided with slots 11 and a screw 18 engaging the under side of the brackets 13 by which the chain may be loosened or tightened. The guide sheaves II are journaled in the upper portion of the yokes l8 freely rotatable on shafts 1.9. Thebrackets 13 also support two pairs of rollers 88 and 8|, the rollers 88 being within the posts I! engaging the inner wall of the split face while-the rollers 8| engage the outer wall of the same face, as shown in Fig. 12. These rollers are mounted on shafts 82 and 83 the rollers 8| being retained on the shafts by cotter pins 85. The yokes 16 are arranged between the rollers 8| and the bracket 13.

Similarly the lower brackets 14 are provided with yokes 81 which support the lower guide rollgiated with the lower sheave. The lower brackets support rollers 90 and 9|, these rollers engaging the inner and outer wall of the upright posts.

I! in the same manner as the rollers 80 and 8|. These rigidly mounted spaced sets of rollers, enaging the upright posts II as a track, guide the cable suspended platform and serve to steady its motion when raised or lowered.

From the above description it will now be seen that as the platform I5 is raised or lowered the chains I do not travel about and drive the gears 42 of the drive wheels but rather the guide sheaves II, I2 and 61 and the gear 4| rotate as the loop of the chain connecting themchanges its vertical position. Thus the hand operated wheels I4 may be arranged to move with the platform as a unitary part of the structure so that workmen on the platform, regardless of its height from the floor, may move the entire machine as desired through operation of the hand wheels I4.

The platform designated in general by the numeral I5 comprises a centralstructure bolted, as heretofore mentioned, to the upright posts 60 and demountable extension platforms 92 and 93. The central platform structure comprises a pair of plates 94 to the upper edges of which is welded or otherwise suitably secured angle braces 95. A horizontally disposed plate 96 connects the said plates 94 and is welded or otherwise suitably secured preferably to the underside of the anglebraces 95, as shown in Fig. 6. A strip of matting 95 preferably of rubber to prevent a work man from slipping, is provided to cover the plate 6. l

The demountable platforms 92 and 93 each comprise a plate 91 to the underside of which is fixed a. pair of spaced I-beams 98. These I-beams project beyond the edge of the floor plates 91 and extend under the plate 96 and rest upon rods 99. The upper surfaces of the floor plates 96 and 91 are flush and these plates may be covered by strips of rubber matting I00 to prevent workmen from slipping. Protuberances IOI are formed on the upper. surface of the I-beams 98 and the underside of the plate 99 is formed with indentations V with which the protuberances register when the platforms are in proper location. Slotted openings I02 are provided in the plate 96 through which the cable I8 passes. A slotted opening I03 is also provided through which the handle 20 projects.

A pair of shelves I05 and I06 are shown supported on the platform extensions 92 and 93. Legs I01 support the shelves and extend into openings provided in the platform. It will be seen that a number of such openings may be provided so that the shelves may be arranged either lengthwise of the platform, as shelf I05 is positioned, or crosswise of the platform, as shelf I06 is arranged. These shelves may be employed as a seat for a workman rs well as to support materials and tools.

In Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, there is shown a clutch mechanism and cooperating parts operable by the hand lever 20 to raise or lower the workmans supporting platform I5. The clutch mechanism is arranged to move with the platform and is supported. on a shaft IIO which extends from one of the upright posts 60 to the other. The shaft H0 is supported in the posts 60 and fixed to the outer wall of each post is a key III engaging a keyway in the shaft to prevent lateral movement of the same.

A spool or spindle H3 is mounted for rotation on the shaft H0 and to this spool is-keyed the sheaves H5 and H6 around which the cable I8 winds. The ends of the cable I2 are fixed to these sheaves H5 and H6 so that as the sheaves rotate the cable winds on the sheaves resulting in the raisingof the platform. One end of the spool H3 is formed with a head I20, the other end being threaded to receive a nut I2I. A tubular spacer I22 which slips over the spool H3 is provided and between the spool and the nut I2I the sheave H6 is maintained in proper position on the spool.

A tubular member I24 is arranged for rotation on the spindle I I2 and is formed with a clutch engaging face I25. The sheave H5 is provided with a similar clutch engaging face I29 and when this face is engaged by the face I25 of the tubullar member I24 the two are locked by friction.

The lower end of the handle 20 extends into a housing I21 and is prevented from axial movement by a set screw I28 extending into a circular slot I29 provided in the handle. A pawl I23 is pivotally fixed to the handle housing by a pin I30. A gear I3I is keyed to the clutch member I24, as at I32, Fig. 9, and this gear is rotated by the engagement therewith of the pawl I23 when the handle is operated back and forth.

An axial bore I33 is provided ofl center in the lower end of the hand lever 20 to receive a pin I34. A coil spring I35 urges the pin I34 against the pawl I23. The upper surface of the pawl I23 against which the pin I34 bears, is provided with two indentations I36 and I31 in either of which the pin may be located by turning the handle 20. When the pin is at one side of the pawl, as shown in Fig. 9, the tooth I36 of the pawl is urged into engagement with the gear I3I. In this position the gear I3I is rotatable in a clockwise direction by moving the handle 20 back and forth and the platform lowered. By rotating the handle 20 the pin I34 may be brought into position to urge the tooth I31 into engagement with the gear I3I. When this is done, movement of the handle will cause counter clockwise rotation of the gear I3I and sheave II5 upon which the cable I8 will be wound resulting in raising the platform. v

To prevent retrograde movement of the sheaves H5 and I I3 a gear I40 is provided between the sheave II5 and. the head I20 of the spool, II3. Leather washers I are provided, one between the head I20 of the spool and the other between the sheave H5 and the gear. When the clutch member I24 engages the cooperating clutch face of the sheave I I5, the-sheave is moved axially on the spindle and clamps the gear I40 between the yieldable leather washers so that it rotates with the sheave. Pawls I42 pivotally supported on the plates 92 of the platform engage the gear I40 and thus prevent retrograde movement of the gear and consequently of the sheave. As shown, these pawls are off-set as at I43 to bring the tooth I44 thereof in alignment with the gear. Two pawls are employed in this instance and, as is well known, by the use of two I wheels I4 together the machine may be caused to move forwardly or backwardly in a straightpawl I23 is arranged, if need be, by rotating the handle 20 until the tooth I35 of the pawl engages the gear I3I. Upon the first movement of the handle the clutch member I24, which is keyed to the gear I 3I,.urges the sheave II5 toward the gear I40. This movement is comparatively small, it will be understood, until such time as the sheave H5 and gear I40 are locked to the clutch member I 24. Continued back and forth movement of the hand lever 20, after the sheave is locked to the clutch member I24, causes the cable I8 to be wound upon the sheaves H5 and Hi. When the platform has been raised to the desired height the pawl I42 engaging the gear I40 will prevent retrograde movement of the clutch parts.

When it is desired to lower the platform this can be done in either of two ways. If it is desired to lower the platform to its lowest point this may be accomplished by releasing the clutch engagement between the clutch member I24 and the sheave I I5 which will permit the platform to descend by its own weight and slowly by reason of the frictional engagement between the leather washers. The platform may also be lowered by operation of the hand lever 20. To lower the platform the handle 20 is rotated until the pin I34 carried thereby urges the tooth I31 of the pawl I23 into engagement with the gear I3I. with the pawl I23 in this position movement of the hand lever 20 will rotate the gear I3I and consequently the sheaves H5 and H5 in a counter clockwise direction resulting in the descent of the platform. a

Referring now to Figs 16 and 17, these views show an apparatus, which might be termed a traveling scaffold, comprising two of the heretofore described machinesbetween which extends a. platform I50. This apparatus is particularly suitable for use in rooms such as school rooms and others in which the furniture is not readily movable. In such rooms, with the present ap-, paratus, the two machines may be operated in the aisles with the connecting platform I50 raised topass over the furniture.

The machines used in the apparatus of Figs. 16 and 1'7 are substantially the same in structure and operation as the machine hereinbefore described in detail so that a repetition of their description is not deemed necessary. The machines have the hand wheels I4 by which the workmen may cause the entire machine to move and the hand levers 20 by operation of which the platform I5 may be raised or lowered. As in the previously described machine, the hoisting mechanism for raising or lowering the platform and the drive mechanism for moving the machine are relatively arranged so as to provide for the movement of the hand wheels and hand lever with the platform so that the workmen may operate these mechanisms while on the platform.

The ends of the extension platform I50 are pivotally supported on-the platform I5 of the machine, as at I52. These pivotal connections permit the machines tobe swung around, for example, from the position shown in Figjl'l'to that .shown in*-Fig., 1 6 so as to carry the platform I50 sideways. .1

Preferably the connecting platform I50 is of the type which is adjustable in length. Any suitable adjustable platform may be used, the one shown being a well known type comprising sections I53 and I54 arranged in slidable relation. Straps I55 fixed to the adjacent ends of the platform sections support the platform sections.

As heretofore described, the machines have separately operated drive mechanisms for each of the wheels II, so that by operating only one of the hand wheels I4 of a machine the machine may be made to turn. In this instance only one wheel is shown pivoted to the other end of the frame, as at I51, but two may be used if desired.

when one, or even both of the machines are turned for: example from'the position shown in Fig. 17 to that in Fig. 16, the machines will not exert a pull on each other, but rather the platform I50 will be elongated to compensate for such movement.

The position of the machine relative to' the platform I50, as shown in Fig. 1'7, permits the entire apparatus to pass lengthwise through an ordinary sized doorway. The machines may be turned to the position shown in Fig. 16 and adjusted, by means of the adjustable platform I50,

in proper spaced relation to permit one machine to pass down each aisle.

From the foregoing description it will now be understood that I have provided a new and novel machine for supporting and conveying workmen. By the arrangement of the mechanism for driving the machine as a vehicle and the mechanism for raising and lowering the platform, a workman while on the platform may raise or lower the same or may move the entire machine to change his horizontal position relative to his work. It'will be appreciated that the drive mechanism and its arrangement in the machine is such that the hand wheels may be carried with the platform when it is moved vertically without such vertical movement affecting the drive wheels. Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim.and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 1. In a device of the characterdescribed, a vehicle having a pair of pivotable wheels and a pair of driven wheels, a platform carried by said vehicle, a separate drive mechanism for each driven wheel including separate hand operated means movable with the platform, hoisting mechanism gear means one for each drive wheel, hand operated means carried by the platform operable to drive said wheels by the chains, a pair of spaced guide sheaves for each chain carried by the platform around which the chains travel when the hand wheels are actuated, and means carried by the platform for vertically moving the platform.

3. In a hoisting device, a pair of spaced hollow upright posts, a movable workmans supporting platform arranged for vertical movement between said posts, a windlass carried by the platform, including a cable suspending said platform from the upright posts, spaced guide rollers carried by said platform engaging the upright posts, said rollers engaging the inner and outer faces of the posts, and hand operated means carried by the platform for operating said hoist.

4. Scafiold apparatus comprising a pair of spaced machines each having a vertically movable load supporting means, hand operated means for each machine movable with said supportingmeans as a unitary structure for moving the same vertically, hand operated means for each machine, movable with the platforms operable for moving the machine, and an extension platform between the vertically movable load supporting means of the machines.

5. Scaffold apparatus comprising a pair of spaced machines each having a vertically movable load supporting means, hand operated means for each machine movable with said supporting means as a unitary structure for moving the same vertically, hand operated means for 'each machine, movable ;with the platforms operable for 25' moving the machine, and an adjustable platform supported by said load supporting means pivoted at its ends thereto.

6. Ina device of the character described, a vehicle including a frame, a pair of driven wheels and a freely turnable roller means supporting the frame, a separate drive mechanism for each driven wheel, a vertically movable platform carried by the vehicle, a control means movable with the platform for each drive mechanism, a hoisting mechanism for varying the vertical position of the platform, and a control means for the hoisting mechanism movable with the platform.

7. In a device of the character described, a vehicle including a frame, a pair of driven wheels and a caster wheel supporting the frame, an up-' wardly extending member carried by the frame, a platform supported by the upwardly extending member, mechanism-carried by the platform and controllable by an operator thereon to vary the vertical position of the platform, and separate driving mechanism for each driven wheel carried by the platform and operable by an operator thereon for moving and guiding the vehicle in any direction over afloor surface.

i NOLAN S. BLACK. 

